Shanghai – BETH | September 8, 2025

Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk,” has signed a strategic partnership with Bilibili, one of China’s most influential video platforms and digital youth communities.

The collaboration covers three key areas:

Streaming the Saudi anime series Asateer2: Future’s Folktales on Bilibili.

Distribution of selected Chinese animated titles by Manga Productions in the Middle East.

A first-ever joint production within Bilibili’s flagship animated short film collection CAPSULES.

This partnership is a milestone in Manga Productions’ mission to globalize Saudi and Arab creative content, especially in China — one of the world’s largest digital entertainment markets. With over 109 million daily active users, Bilibili provides immense reach for Saudi content.

The partnership launched last month with the premiere of Asateer2: Future’s Folktales for Chinese audiences, following the global success of season one, which achieved over 100 million views on more than 40 platforms worldwide. Future initiatives include localization of Chinese titles for Middle Eastern viewers and co-productions to strengthen cultural exchange while empowering young creative talent in both countries.

Notably, Manga’s 2022 animated film The Journey became the first Saudi-Arab title to appear on Bilibili, reaching nearly 2 million views in less than a month and attracting more than 30,000 followers. The Mandarin version, featuring Jackie Chan, resonated strongly with Chinese audiences.

Commenting on the deal, Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said:

“We are proud to collaborate with Bilibili, one of China’s most prominent digital platforms. This partnership reflects our commitment to exporting high-quality Saudi creative content globally, while deepening cultural exchange with China. We remain dedicated to investing in national talent and enabling Saudi youth to contribute to global projects that embody our cultural identity and creative vision.”

Mr. Zhang Shengyan, Vice President of Bilibili, added:

“We are honored to partner with Manga Productions, a pioneer in Middle Eastern creative content. This step introduces Saudi animation to Chinese audiences and deepens collaboration between our countries in animation. We look forward to strengthening young talent cooperation, bringing Chinese works to the Middle East, and expanding joint production opportunities.”

Eng. Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh, Business Development and Content Licensing Director at Manga Productions, noted:

“This partnership is a pivotal step in bringing Saudi creative content to China, one of the world’s largest entertainment markets. It opens new doors for collaboration and helps us expand globally with stories that reflect our cultural identity.”